The Bay of Islands

Urupukapuka Island

Bay of Islands

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Photo by:

williwieberg

If you managed to get yourself to the Bay of Islands in New Zealand by RV, auto, or bus, don’t rush by. There’s plenty to see and do. If you came for the water, try game fishing or swim with the dolphins. If you like boats, charter a yacht and spend nights in a sheltered anchorage or pick something a little smaller and paddle around in a sea kayak.

If you came north by bus, you’ll end up in Pahia, a small tourist town with three sandy beaches. You’ll find motels as well as backpacker accommodation in Pahia. In nearby Waitangi, the treaty between the British Crown and Maori chiefs was signed in 1840. From the wharf in Pahia, you can catch a passenger ferry to Russell– once the capital of New Zealand. A little farther north, you can reach Kerikeri by jogging back to Hwy 10. At Kerikeri, you’ll find orchards, wineries, arts and craft shops, and the oldest building in New Zealand– Kemp House.


From all this "once the capital...oldest building" I’ve been dropping in, you’ve probably guessed you’re surrounded by history. Named Bay of Islands in 1769 by Captain Cook, there are 144 islands in the bay. I take the Kiwi’s word for that one since I’ve never counted. Besides these four historic towns, you’ll also find one of DOC’s national parks– the Bay of Islands Maritime Park.


With so much to see in the Bay of Islands, this video will give you an idea of what you’ll find. Notice the Duke of Marlboro Hotel in Russell– our first stop on a tiki tour around the bay.







Lyn Harris



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